We spent our last day on the East coast heading up to Port Douglas via Captain Cook Highway with the intent of going to Mossman Gorge and back to Yorkeys Knob via the mountain route. The weather had other plans so we just did a day trip up to Port Douglas and back. However, we weren’t disappointed as the road was great and followed the coast most of the way.
Port Douglas and as far north as we’re planning to go
Geraldine has been warned. Sea Glass might be fair game.
Great coast road and sea views between Yorkey’s Knob and Port Douglas
Balancing/stacking rocks on a beach south of Wangetti.
Easy Rider is getting in on the rock action as well!
Met these (father-sons) at Palm Cove during a coffee stop. The dad has a GS and one of the sons is a temporary worker in Australia and has done motorcycling around also. He had his bike stolen in Tasmania!
The rain ended just in time before we headed West from Cairns into the outback.
Crater Lakes National Park – some were swimming – Brrr!
The last bit of greenery we’ll see for a while. Just east of Ravenshoe, the highest town in Queensland, with Queensland’s highest pub.
The Outback is a highlight for me as it’s so different from the Australia we’ve seen so far. Amazingly we’ve seen a good variety of birds enroute.
We’ve seen termite mounds like this all the way west and south towards Alice Springs. The very between a few inches tall and several feet. We’ve heard further north summary even much taller!
Every couple hundred miles there is typically a Roadhouse that has fuel and food and possibly some lodging or campsites.
It’s amazing how some of the remote roadhouses stay stocked with petrol and other supplies. Many of the Roadhouse staffs are temporary workers from other countries that are here for 1 or 2 years on a work permit. It’s a great experience for them.
The petrol stations are getting more basic.
We might close at 5pm and we might not.
Some older cars and other items in our campground.
As soon as we can find a caravan we’re going to apply.
On our first full day riding in the outback we met our first road train head first on a single lane stretch of road. At the last minute I realized he wasn’t moving over so I had to onto the gravel shoulder. Lesson learned don’t mess with road trains.
Typical road trains parked at Burke and Wills (named after early explorers) Roadhouse. Some have four trailers. The big grills on the front are for obliterating anything in its path.
We stayed at the beach in Karumba for a few days. The camp ground we stayed at is similar to Florida and full of Snow Birds or as they call them here Grey Nomads! It’s renowned for its sunsets and weather and it was the last coast we’ll see for a while as we had South.
More rock stacking
This was the winner of the campground mailbox competition hosted for the Snow Birds (Gray Nomads) staying for the winter.
Karumba sunset
Heading south out of Normanton we came across our first near miss with a kangaroo who decided to hop across the road at 10 a.m. He froze in the middle and I went left thankful he didn’t retreat to where he came from!
One of the huge meals had in Clongarry. Lots of road workers staying there so they have big appetites. I had about 5 huge rashers of bacon.
Large distances to cover.
Departing Queeensland and entering the Northern Territory.
Our first night in the Norther Terrirtory, we found they have different rules for alcohol. We went to buy wine in Tennant Creek and a police officer is checking everyone’s ID for their address. Some addresses are banned due to alcohol abuse. Also, they can only sell between 4-7 pm.
The Devils Marbles on the Stuart Highway.
Roadhouse pub on the Stuart Highway.
Roadhouse pub on the Stuart Highway.
Meet our neighbor at our Ti Tree roadhouse cabin.
Aboriginal Art at Aileron Roadhouse, Stuart Highway.
Aboriginal Are at Aileron, Stuart Highway.
Mobile phone services are almost non-existent in the Outback but some stops generally have some service.
Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn. Colder weather, here we come!
We had a much needed break in Alice Springs with some friends from Virginia. It’s good to have some home cooking, a washer and dryer! We were treated to some desert stargazing to view of the milky way, Saturn’s rings (telescope) and many satellites skirting through this night sky. Also had a visit with some kangaroos at a foster home!
Alice Springs is a bit of an oasis in the desert and it even has a McDonald’s!
ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Hill on the North entrance to Alice. Very nice memorial.
“Downtown” Alice Springs from ANZAC Hill
Time for baby kangaroo’s bottle!
Just finished feeding this baby from a bottle. Now cuddling in a pillow cover. The female kangaroos are born with a pouch!
From Alice Springs we continued South and then West to Kings canyon and Uluru (Ayers Rock).
Sunset on Kings Canyon, NT
Kings Canyon River
Some compromises (sacrifices) need to be made in the Outback. Wine glasses are rare.
They can get serious floods here. Good thing we’re here in the dry season!
Red Center Way at the intersection of the Kings Canyon and Uluru roads.
Mount Conner enroute to Uluru. It’s nickname is “Fool- Uru” because many tourist mistake it for Uluru when they first see it.
Even though the Anangu landowners discourage tourists from climbing on Uluru, there’s one section where tourists flock to so they can climb up. We decided to respect the wishes of the Anangu people and rode around the rock and visited the cultural museum.
Here’s the real rock.
We’ll finish our visit to Uluru tonight with a sunset viewing and outside night dinner in the field of lights.
It’s time to continue our journey south with a few more days and the Outback before returning to civilization!
John and Geraldine's Motorcycle Travels 